Frances Cuka
Biography
Frances Cuka was an English actress whose career in television, film and theater spanned more than sixty years. Born in London in 1936, she was raised in Hove and during her childhood performed on BBC radio, including on Children's Hour. She trained at Guildhall School of Music and Drama. After joining Theatre Workshop she acted in Macbeth and in 1958 created the part of Jo in Shelagh Delaney's A Taste of Honey, playing it in the West End and on Broadway. Other stage work included Endgame and Live Like Pigs at the Royal Court, and in 1963 she was Becky Sharp in the musical Vanity Fair. On television she appeared in the 1971 BBC adaptation of Sense and Sensibility, Adam Adamant Lives, Minder, Crossroads and Coronation Street. Her films included Scrooge (1970) and Henry VIII and His Six Wives (1972). From 2011 to 2018 she played Grandma Nellie Buller in Friday Night Dinner. She died in 2020.
83years old at death
- Born London
- Died London
- Star sign: LeoThe sign runs July 23 to August 22
Movie Career
- Films
- 6
- Career span
- 44 years1970 to 2014
First and latest
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First role
After training at Guildhall, Frances Cuka joined Theatre Workshop, where she appeared in Macbeth and in 1958 originated the part of Jo in Shelagh Delaney's A Taste of Honey. She kept the role when the production transferred to the West End and Broadway.
A role that slipped away
Cuka was cast as Peggy Mitchell when the character first appeared in EastEnders in 1991, but her filmed scenes were scrapped and Jo Warne took the role.
Beyond film
In 2010, Cuka took the role of Lady Bracknell for Logos Theatre Company at Upstairs at the Gatehouse, appearing in a four-act staging of The Importance of Being Earnest that was not the usual one.
Frances Cuka movies on Netflix
Best known for
The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.
Worked with
Frances Cuka shares two films with Charlotte Rampling, and one with each of the others. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.
Films together
Charlotte Rampling's page
Donald Pleasence's page
Sigourney Weaver's page
Sam Neill's page
Bette Davis's page
Mark Strong's page
François OzonDirector, 1 film, 2003
All films by François Ozon
Ronald NeameDirector, 1 film, 1970
All films by Ronald Neame
Michael CohnDirector, 1 film, 1997
All films by Michael Cohn
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.